Acrylic and propionic acid compounds, intermediates, processes, compositions, and methods

A compound of formula I

• wherein
• each of R and R1 is independently hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C4-alkoxy, benzyloxy, C1-C6-alkanoyloxy, benzoyloxy, substituted benzoyloxy bearing 1 to 3 substituents each of which is independently halo, C1-C4-loweralkyl, or C1-C4-loweralkoxy, C1-C5-alkoxycarbonyloxy, or C4-C6-alkylsulfonyloxy;
• R3 is —CH═CH— (trans) or —CH2—CH2—;
• R4 is hydroxy, C1-C4-alkoxy, or —N(R5)2 wherein each R5 is taken separately and independently represents hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, or both R5 are taken with the N atom and constitute pyrrolidino, piperidino, hexamethyleneimino, or morpholino;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.